2025Winner
Best Director
Forgiveness Girl
Carson McKinnon
Actor · Director · Producer · Writer
Biography
Carson McKinnon is an American cinematographer and director from Salt Lake City, Utah. He has served as Director of Photography on more than ten feature films and is best known for writing, directing, and shooting the psychological thriller Mother and Me (2024). McKinnon won the 2022 Utah Film Award for Best Cinematographer for Rite of the Shaman and was previously recognized as Best Filmmaker Under 18 for his short film 8 Hours (2019). His work is distinguished by its striking visual style and emotionally driven storytelling.
Photo
Representative Works
Awards and Honors
Critical Favorites
2026Winner
Best Director
Gabriella
2024Nominee
Best Performance
Algea: God of Pain
Career Highlights
Highlight
Best Director
Last Seven Days
2024Highlight
Best Performance
Permafrost
Video
Forgiveness Girl
Algea: God of Pain
Permafrost